Are You Fit to Be an Astronaut?

January 20, 2011 — Do you have what it takes to train like an astronaut? In the next six weeks, approximately 3,700 students in more than 25 different cities will find out. NASA and 14 international space agencies are challenging students to complete a nutrition and fitness program known as "Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut." The international challenge began Tuesday, with the U.S., Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Columbia, Spain, and United Kingdom hosting teams. Teams of students between 8 and 12 years old are learning about healthy eating, exercise and competing for points by finishing training modules. Students are also practicing scientific reasoning and teamwork while participating in hands-on training that targets strength, endurance, coordination, balance and spatial awareness. The exercises involve the same types of skills astronauts learn during training for spaceflights. Team USA, consisting of more than 800 fourth-graders, is hosted by the College Station Independent School District in College Station, Texas. “A part of the human space exploration mission is to inspire our youth to stay in school and master professions in the sciences and engineering fields to carry on this important work well into the 21st century," said Charles Lloyd, NASA's Human Research Program education and outreach project manager. "We believe this starts with our youth in elementary school. We hope this international fitness challenge will assist them with that lifelong endeavor." Mission X challenges students to be more physically active; increases awareness of the importance of lifelong health and conditioning; teaches students how fitness plays a vital role in human performance for exploration; and inspires and motivates students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Earlier this week, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman kicked off the challenge from the International Space Station. “All of you have challenging work ahead as you learn to exercise and eat right,” she told the students in a video. “That’s what we do here on the International Space Station — we eat right and exercise every day.” The 18 core activities of the challenge are available for download in seven languages. Click here to view country updates.

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